Mon préféré

 I love so many bridges in Paris, but the Pont des Arts remains my favorite. When I first visited Paris  years ago, I found the few "love locks" charming. As time passed, they took over this bridge and most others and were destroying them with their weight, not to mention their hideousness. Thankfully the city of Paris stepped in, finally, and cut them off, and now have restored them to their former beauty. 

Allons-y !

As I made my way across the Pont des Arts, taking photos to document the sacrilege to the bridge,  a group of kindergartners blew past me followed by their teacher. I was in hot pursuit to see what they were in such a hurry to see.  Ahhhh yes, the one lone panel of heavy duty glass on the whole bridge. A test by the city of Paris to see if it "works". This was the one and only place on the entire bridge where these petits enfants could actually see the Seine and beyond. They stopped, looked and listened as their teacher pointed out what she wanted them to see and learn. The one bright spot on the Pont des Arts that day.

Amour à vente

I shared a photograph of the Pont des Arts before the love locks became epidemic and the aftermath yesterday. Today, a look at the love locks salesmen set up their wares in broad open daylight. They don't like to have their photos taken so you see this one has walked away from the merchandise. 
They are kind enough to offer locks at many price points. I don't know how much they sell for, but I'm sure the largest ones ( that will take a city worker a good while to cut off the bridge) aren't for those who are marginally in love. What having a policeman posted there or between two bridges handing out fines would cost, could be offset by the fines if they were diligent. Now the city of Paris is looking at an enormous expense cutting them off and repairing the damaged bridges. A problem that should have been taken care of years ago.

Pour l'amour??

The Pont des Arts in 2011

 

Pont des Arts 2014

Let's get this straight. I love Paris and I love the lovers in Paris that you see on every corner expressing that. What I DON'T love is the destruction of some of Paris' most beautiful bridges with the onslaught of "love locks" over the past few years. Ironically they call them "love", but they are causing immense weight and deterioration on these structures, not to mention the eyesore they have become.  I've seen numerous articles, blog posts and posts on Facebook about this and what the city of Paris should do, but last November I was shocked that the practice continues!  As I walked up to the Pont des Arts, I saw that now the locks extend down the sidewalk. The entire bridge is a disgrace. Parts have collapsed due to the weight and been patched with plywood, which of course has been tagged. Locks were being sold right there and seemingly sane tourists were buying them and writing their names with markers, so kindly provided by the "salesmen". At this point it would take city workers days (weeks?) to cut them all off. What a waste of time and money. This is a mini series of sorts as I will post a few photos for the next few days of what this lovely bridge looked like a few years ago and what's happening even today. I have a bright photo to share for the end.

Pont des Arts Avant

 

This taken in June, 2010, you can see a few locks behind this musician.  Now......there is no space left as the locks of love have covered every single inch of this lovely bridge.  Hopefully,  the city of Paris will soon remove them all as they pose a huge weight on the bridge and also block the view of the Seine.  I vote to have them gone!